BMW experiment with intelligent haptic car doors

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The need for better car safety is forever being pushed forward by new regulations and a desire to cut the amount of accidents and deaths attributed to road accidents every year. With this in mind the car manufacturers are increasingly looking to the tech industry for better safety in their cars. So it shouldn’t be surprising to find BMW are experimenting with accelerometers and force feedback to make it safer opening your car door.{ad}

The thinking behind these new doors is that their ability to open should be limited if the car senses there is some danger by doing so. The door therefore includes an electric motor and a metal bar, which can be used to apply a force and limit the amount the door actually swings open, or not allow it to open at all.

The accelerometer is there to inform the car the door is attempting to open, and an array of sensors check for danger such as an obstacle within the path of the door or an oncoming cyclist, for example.

By combining these you get an intelligent door that not only makes the person behind the door safer, but could help cut down on repair bills.

The system was developed by Michael Graf at BMW working with Michael Strolz and a team at the Technical University of Munich. The door is still being developed and there are plans to replace the sensors with cameras to allow for better information regarding potential obstacles.

The technology will be ready soon and could be seen in BMW cars within 12 months.

Matthew’s Opinion
Adding sensors to cars isn’t new and we have had reversing sensors and cameras for quite a while. But actually modifying how the car reacts to what the passenger or driver does is relatively new. We are starting to see the introduction of automatic breaking if obstacles are sensed in front of the car; and systems that monitor your travel to make sure you don’t veer off the road. Intelligent doors are just the next step.

One issue I do have with such a system is safety when trying to exit a car that is in trouble. Maybe you have been in an accident and want to exit the car quickly, but the door won’t open because you are close to another car or wall. There clearly needs to be an override in such circumstances and I am sure BMW will think of this.

Ultimately I think we are all going to end up as passengers in our own cars. You get in, tell it where you want to go, and sit back while it drives you to your destination at the right speed and without accident. It will take a lot of fun out of the driving experience, but I’m sure we’ll find better uses for out time.